By Air Force Senior Airman Mikaley Kline 99th Air Base Wing
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev., October 28, 2015 — She speaks
Russian, Bulgarian and English while possessing master's degrees in economics,
law, business administration as well as international relations. She worked as
a teacher and a border patrol agent at one of the busiest checkpoints in
Bulgaria before immigrating to the United States, eventually beginning a career
as an American airman.
Air Force Capt. Reni Angelova, 99th Medical Group practice
manager, said she stumbled upon the Language Enabled Airman Program when she
went in to take an annual test to certify her foreign language proficiency.
"I speak a few languages and had to go in because I was
due for [the Defense Language Proficiency Test]," Angelova said. "I
was sitting in the waiting area when someone asked whether I was there to test
for LEAP. I turned around and asked "What is LEAP?"
LEAP is managed by the Air Force Culture and Language
Center, and its goal is to develop a group of airmen with different specialties
and careers who have the ability to communicate in one or more foreign
languages.
"The idea is to help maintain language skills and
refresh them every so often so that you are up-to-date with changes in the
language and culture," Angelova said. "The mission allows you to
improve your cultural awareness, along with your language skills, to be ready
to support our worldwide operations."
Angelova researched the program and decided to apply.
"I asked permission from my squadron commander, ... and
he said 'Absolutely, yes.'” she said.
The LEAP Process
The board requires submission of the three most recent
performance reports and an endorsement from the applicant’s squadron commander.
Each applicant’s language skills and overall performance as an airman are
reviewed during the selection process.
“A few months later, my squadron commander surprised me with
the great news; I was selected for the LEAP program," Angelova said.
Participants go through two phases to help maintain their
language skills. Phase I is an online class, and Phase II is a Language
Intensive Training Event. The LITE includes a three- to four-week temporary
duty assignment in the country where the language is spoken in a natural
environment, with opportunities to take a class in a local school, teach,
participate in a humanitarian mission, or support a U.S Embassy mission -- all
geared toward refreshing language skills and cultural awareness.
"I thought about teaching or taking a class, but I have
already done both," Angelova said. "I decided to call the U.S.
Embassy in Bulgaria and see if they'd like a month of linguist support under
LEAP. The answer was 'Yes, by all means -- we can always use additional
support.'"
Operation Swift Response
Upon arrival in Bulgaria, Angelova was assigned to the
Office of Defense Coordination, which reports to the U.S. military attache in
Bulgaria.
She worked with the U.S. Army in support of Operation Swift
Response, the largest NATO airdrop since the end of the Cold War. "The
airdrop mission included several nations and was conducted simultaneously on
the territory of few NATO member countries,” Angelova said.
During her final week, she was assigned to U.S Navy SEAL
Team 10 as an interpreter and cultural expert. "U.S. Navy SEAL Team 10 was
part of a joint planning and advisory team, conducting joint combined exchange
training mission with the host country specialized unit for combating
terrorism. It was truly impressive to see the impact of our operations overseas
in sharing experience and building relationships," she said.
Angelova had supported a NATO mission earlier in her career,
while she was stationed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
"I volunteered to be an escort during the NATO Air
Chief Symposium in Washington D.C.," Angelova said. "The event
coordination teams took into consideration our foreign language skills and
assigned us to the air chiefs whose country's language we spoke. I was
escorting the Bulgarian air chief at the time, [Lt. Gen. Constantin Popov].
"I had the opportunity to meet General Popov during my
LEAP TDY three years after the symposium,” she said. “General Popov is
currently the deputy chief of defense in Bulgaria. He remembered me with the
best of impressions for outstanding support during the NATO symposium."
Life in Bulgaria
Born in Sandanski, Bulgaria, Angelova was in high school
when the country went through a transition period.
"My first dream was to fly for the military, but at the
time they were not accepting girls as flyers," Angelova said. "I was
accepted into a civilian university and graduated [with] two master’s degrees:
economics with Russian and Bulgarian, and law."
In the meantime, she worked as a teacher and eventually
became a border patrol agent.
"There are moments in life when you realize that
something is missing and you know it is time to make a change. This is how I
felt," Angelova said. "I needed something that would let me spread my
wings and fly. The environment I was in was slowly changing, but not fast
enough to offer equal opportunities.
"The United States allowed me the opportunity to make
my wishes come true,” she continued. “I applied for the permanent residency
lottery, or the ‘green card lottery,’ which offered permanent residency for the
States, and submitted the application for my parents and brother as well."
Angelova's brother won the lottery four years later and
moved to Chicago. Four years after that, Angelova won her green card and found
herself heading to the United States.
"I landed in Chicago and I felt at home in the
U.S.," she said. "I had no doubts how to utilize the blessing of
winning the lottery. I was determined to follow my dreams and make a
difference."
She returned to her dream of serving in the military.
Joining the Military
"My first impression from the U.S. military was during
one of my border patrol night shifts at the checkpoint in Bulgaria,"
Angelova said. "There was a U.S. military convoy crossing the border, and
we were processing their paperwork. The image of the American soldier proudly
serving left an everlasting impression of an incredible dedication and
commitment. The U.S. military was making a difference around the world. I
wished that one day I'd feel the same way."
In 2003, she sought out an Air Force recruiter to help make
her dream a reality.
"I started researching what I needed to do to join. I
found a recruiting office, but was told that because I was 29, I couldn't
join," Angelova said. "I read that there are waivers, but the
recruiting office did not confirm it. So I thought, 'Well, Reni, I guess we'll
have to close that chapter.'"
Angelova's parents knew a family in California and shared
her disappointment. They asked a recruiter in California about the waiver
process, and he confirmed it. Angelova flew to California to initiate the
process.
"I had found Tech. Sgt. Cory Frommer. He looked at my
records, my degrees and language skills, and told me 'I think that you're worth
the time and will be a great asset for the U.S. Air Force. I think your package
will be very complicated, but I am willing to work with you,'” she said.
She joined the Air Force as an enlisted airman on March 23,
2004, and was assigned to Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina, in the air
transportation career field.
"While [I was] at Pope Air Force Base, a Bulgarian
delegation of mayors visited to discuss areas for potential use as NATO bases.
They had lots of questions referencing noise and impact on the local population
and surrounding areas during the visit," Angelova said. "I was one of
the briefers, surprisingly giving the briefing in excellent Bulgarian. The
delegation was impressed. They were not expecting it.
"The base commander shared that my briefing broke the
ice,” she said. “The negotiations went smoother than they did in the beginning,
heading in a positive direction."
With encouragement from her supervisors, Angelova decided to
apply for a commission.
"They told me my dedication could be utilized in a
different capacity," she said. "I put in the package, and one
morning, my Medical Service Corps recruiter called with the news of being
selected and my [Officer Training School] date."
Her first assignment as an officer was to Joint Base
Andrews, and she was assigned here next.
Serving as an Example
Air Force Lt. Col. Laurie McKenna, 99th Medical Group’s
senior practice manager, said Angelova is a stellar example of what any
individual can be, regardless of where they come from, their culture, or their
beliefs.
"You can become whatever you want, whenever you want,
yet still, respect everything along the way," McKenna said. "She is
very motivational and inspiring. She exudes the four pillars of wellness. We
bounce things off each other as a team. She knows her job. If she doesn't know
the answer, she tracks it down. So I know that if I give her something to do, I
can forget it because I know she'll get it done."
McKenna encouraged other supervisors to let their airmen
take part in programs like LEAP if they have the foreign language proficiency.
"I've seen her contribution to the LEAP program. All
supervisors should keep in mind that when you have an airman you know has
talents outside of what's required for the position they are currently in, to
expand those opportunities and make people aware of them," McKenna said.
"Her trip over to Bulgaria was more than being an
interpreter,” she said. “She was integrating many types of people across
various forces in different countries. Having that talent and being able to do
it successfully, is an opportunity that should be there for all our talented
airmen.
"Workwise, it hurt when she left, and you can feel
that, but for the larger Air Force mission, it was an absolute win-win
situation. It was worth every moment that she was gone for her to be able to
support that," McKenna said.
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